March 1, 1999

Illini leading scorer and 28-game starter Cory Bradford has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the media and the coaches it was announced today. He was also selected third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. He is the only Illinois player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year since the inception of the award in 1986.

The Memphis, Tenn. native is the third player from his AAU team to be named a conference freshman of the year. He played with 1998 ACC Freshman of the Year Robert O'Kelley from Wake Forest and 1998 SEC Freshman of the Year Tony Harris from Tennessee.

Bradford leads the Illini with 15.0 ppg and has hit a three-pointer in every game this year, the longest streak of consecutive games with a three-pointer ever by an Illini player. His 68 three-pointers this year are the most ever by a freshman at Illinois. He is sixth in the single-season three-point standings in the Illini record book.

He is currently the third leading freshman scorer in Illinois history. His 419 points this year are 27 behind Kiwane Garris (446 in 1993-94), and 33 behind Deon Thomas (452 in 1990-91). Bradford has scored in double figures 24 times this year and has reached the 20-point mark six times.

He has led the Illini in scoring 16 times this year and hit the game-winner against 11th ranked Wisconsin on Feb. 6. He hit 7-of-11 from three-point range against Wisconsin and scored nine of his 26 points in the final 1:23 as the Illini upset the Badgers, 53-51.